Hand-manipulated fur treating tool



y 1953 s. FRIEDMAN 25% 943 HAND-MANIPULATED FUR TREATING TOOL Filed Jan. 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

INVENTOR: SAMUEL FE/EDMA N B &LW%M

ATTORNEYS ventional machines is a prime necessity. small shops, where the expense of a large mapafenfeci July 17, 1951 HAND-MANIPULATED FUR TREATING TOOL Samuel Friedman, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Reliable Machine Works, Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 5, 1951, Serial No. 204,582

31 Claims.

The present invention relates to a small and self-contained fur treating tool which can be manipulated by hand in a manner comparable to an ordinary sadiron and which is particularly .adapted for the reconditioning or other treatment of small fur pieces or garments or areas of larger fur pieces or garments not readily accessible or otherwise adapted to treatment in more conventional fashion.

. In the treatment of fur pieces and garments made from such fur pieces initial treatment of the fur, along the lines of bushing, ironing and combing, is a necessity, and as such fur pieces or garments have been used for a period of time the luster and appearance of the fur can be restored through similar reconditioning treatment. In the case of large fur pieces relatively massive fur conditioning machines have been devised, but they are expensive pieces of equipment both to own and to operate. They are, therefore, not particularly adapted for use in small establishments. The reconditioning of fur garments on such machines, while possible, is nevertheless highly impractical because of the nature, and particularly the fragility, of the linings of such garments. Large size machines have been designed specifically for use with such garments, but these,

like the machines previously mentioned, are expensive. Even when such large machines are used on large fur pieces or on garments, difilculties in manipulation of the fur and variations in the contour of the garment may cause certain areas thereof to be inadequately treated. The need for a small hand-manipulated tool which will perform the function of the large machine but which will facilitate access to fur areas not particularly susceptible of treatment in conchine is not warrented, the need for such a handmanipulated tool is obvious even for applications where the large machine could do a satisfactory job.

One of the main drawbacks to the hand tools previously in use in the industry is that, because of their small size, they fail to perform all of the operations necessary to proper treatment or reconditioning of fur, these operations including brushing, combing and ironing. As a result, the hand tools of the prior art either proved to be ineffectual to perform their desired function inan adequate manner, or else a multiplicity of tools are required, each of which performs but a single function. In the latter case it is necessary to employ tools one after the other. This not only involves considerable time and thus adds materially to the expense of the reconditioning operation, but also does not result in as good a job as if the operations were carried out simultaneously or nearly so. A combing. operation on 2 tightly matted fur, unless performed at substantially the same time as the brushing and ironing operation, is not particularly effective as a combing operation and, moreover, when the two operations are performed in rapid succession it has been found that each facilitates and intensihes the action of the other.

Another drawback to the use of hand tools of the prior art resides in the fact that they are difficult and tiresome to operate. Operator fatigue is an important factor which not only reduces the productivity of a highly skilled, and consequently highly paid, operator, but also militates against high quality work. In many cases the tool, after a stroke in one direction, has to be lifted from the garment and moved in a reverse direction out of contact with the garment, then being lowered for another useful stroke. The lifting operation plays a major part in accelerating operator fatigue. In other cases the reverse stroke has a deleterious effect on the garment detracting from the results achieved by the operative stroke.

The prime object of the present invention is to produce a hand-manipulated fur treating tool which will perform all or a substantial proportion of the necessary treating steps, thus avoiding the necessity of utilizing a plurality of tools. The tool of the present invention performs these functions in an efficient and effective manner and substantially simultaneously, so that each cooperates with the other to enhance the intensity of its own action as well as that of the other.

To this end the tool of the present invention includes, in a single compact unit easily capable of hand manipulation, a heated rotary element which simultaneously performs a brushing and ironing operation, as well as a combing element positioned in close physical juxtaposition to the rotary element and adapted to comb the fur immediately before it has been brushed and ironed, thus preconditioning the fur to be receptive to the brushing and ironing operation.

In order to make the use of the tool more effortless, the heated element which performs the brushing and ironing functions is rotated in such a direction as, when brought into contact with the fur, to tend to pull the tool along the fur. Hence the effort required on one of the strokes, and preferably the reverse stroke, is greatly minimized.

In order to further increase the effectiveness 7 of the tool, a bottom wall is provided, preferably the point where the rotary element must be exposedin order to engage the fur surface over which it is moved, but it also acts as a substantial support for the tool, preventing it from sinking into the fur to an excessive degree, thus ermitting the operator to control the degree to which the comb "and the rotary element penetrate the fur surface merely by controlling the inclination of the tool on said bottom wall. This has the added advantage that resistance to movement of the tool over the "fur surface is minimized, thus reducing the amount of energy which the operator must expend in using the-tool. I

The bottom wall, since it is positioned on the opposite side of the comb from therotary element, performs another very important function, to wit, it smooths the fur surface imme diately in advance of the; application ofthe comb thereto, thus preconditioning the fur to be receptive to the combing operation. It therefore will 'be' apparent that the close juxtaposition in sequence of application first of a smoothing member, then of, a combing memberfand imme- "diately followed by a brushing and ironing member results in greatly improved effectiveness in the use of the tool. It has already been pointed out that the actionof the combing member enhances the eifect of the brushing and ironing member. The action'of the smoothing member enhances the effect 'of the combing member, thus permittingbetter combing, and by the same token also adds to the effect of the brushing and ironing member, since the improved combing resulting from the smoothing which immediately preceded it will have an additive beneficial effect on the brushing and ironing.

Operator fatigue is minimized through the design of the tool. The operative stroke is performed against the direction of rotation of the brushing and ironing member, and hence'some muscular effort must be exertedby the operator, but the fact that the tool is largely supported on its bottom Wall during that stroke minimizes the force which must be applied by'the'operator. On the reverse stroke the tool need merely be tilted forwardly onto the rotary element so as to lift the comb and the supporting bottom wall from the fur surface the rotary element then pulling the tool forward, leaving to the operator only the task of guiding the tool in the proper direction. 7 I v e The tool is further so constructed as to be readily placeable in a standby position near or next to the fur piece tobe treated, from which position it may be moved to operative position with a minimum of effort. I I I Ifhe tool is entirely self-contained, iscomparatively small and light, is readily and inexpensively constructed of a plurality of comparatively simple component parts, and yet has an effectiveness comparable to its larger counterparts in carrying out its desiredfunctions.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing, and for such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relatesrto the construction .of a hand-manipulated'fur"treating tool as defined in the appended claimsand as disclosed' in Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the tool, a portion of the comb being broken away; and

Fig. '5 is a detailed partly cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale showing one manner in which the comb may be mounted in the tool.

The tool of the present invention comprises a housing "generany designated A and having front and rear housing sections l and 3, a motor B being mounted within the rear housing section 3 and'operatively'cdnnected to a rotary fur brushing and ironing drum C mounted within the front "housing section I, means being provided within the housing A for heating the drum C so -thatfitmay perform its desired functions. The bottom of the rear housing section 3 is provided with a curved wall D on which the tool may be at least partially supported during an-epera-tive stroke, as shown in Fig. 1. A comb E is mounted at the bottom of the housing A so that its teeth 5 project downwardly therefrom closely adjacent to the drum C. As a result, when the toolf-is moved over afur piece 1 with the drum D brushing and ironing the fur, the comb E is drawn through the fur immediately before it has been brushed and ironed. The curved wall D, by engaging and sliding over the surface of the fur piece I in advance of the comb E, serves "to smooth said'surface and thus precondition it-fdr the combing operation which follows immediately thereafter. v v e A handleF is provided at the top of the'hou'sing A by means of which the entire tool may "be readily manipulated with one hand. The *entire unit may be encompassed within a housirig which is but eight inches long and four and onehalf inches high, the handle projecting there'- above'for "approximately" another two inches. it will be apparent, therefore, that the tool is are size comparable to an ordinary sadiron such as-is used by housewives, yetis'capableof performing brushing, ironingand combing functions on- 'a piece of fur or on-portionsof a fur garment in a. very readily controlled manner.

. Turning now to the details of the structure, the front section I of the housing Ais defined-by a unitary casting having afro'ntlip 2, a topwall 4 with a Sub-housing 6 extending upwardly therefrom, a rear wall8,'and sidelwalls l6 and [2, the side wall I g 'extlending rearwardly of therear wall 8 and "having an 'ovahflange l4 'extending'out therefrom, a coverplate 16 having ventilating openings 53 therein being "secured to the outer edges of the flange [4 by means of screws '20. Eotatalbly mounted between the side walls l0 and ['2 is the'rot'ary 'fur brushing'and ironing druin C, that drum having a peripherals'urface with angular notches 22 therein so that a brushing action will result when the drum C is rotatedand 'this'spec ification, taken'togetlier with the'accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a left-sildeelevational viewbffthe tool, the tool being shown in-the position appropriate 'for an operative strokes a Fig. 2 is a right sideelevationalwiew, the tool being shown supported in its standby position Fig. 3 is a left" side elvational viewsiinilar to is'in contact with a fur piece 1. Since the bottom of the front housing section I is open, the drum C is accessible therethrough so that it can be brought into contact with the'fur surfacejit being preferred that the lower side edges 9 of the front housingsection I extend slightly below the periphery of the drum Cso as to assist in supporting the tool and prevent the drum C from sinking too deeply into the surface of thefur piece 1 (see Fig. 3) Heating elements 24 are mounted inside the drum C so'as' to heat the latter, those elements 24 being electrically en'ergizable in conventional manner by means of slip rings on the side ofthe drum C which make sliding contact with electri- 'cal brushes mounted within brush weakes -secu red to the side wall I Dof the front housing sepnon I. The drum c "is I'HOfifiteddn a shaft 2a,

one end of which is journaled in the side wall III at the bearing 29 and the other end of which is rotatably mounted in the side wall I2 and extends out therefrom into the space inside the flange I4, a pulley 30 being secured thereto.

A bracket 32 is secured to the rear Wall 8 of the front housing section I near the bottom thereof, rearwardly extending arms of this bracket 32 serving to pivotally support the motor B by means of links 34 fixedly secured to the motor B and pivotally supported on the bracket 32 by means of screws 36. In order to steady the motor and permit adjustment of its position in the tool, an additional bracket in the form of vertically-extending bar 38 is secured to that portion of the motor adjacent the rear housing Wall 8, an adjusting screw 40 being passable through the upper end of the bar 38 and threadedly received within the rear wall 8 of the front housing section I. Springs 42 are interposed between the motor B and the rear housing Wall 8, the springs tending to cause the motor B to pivot about the screw 36 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the adjusting screw 40 controlling the degree to which this pivotal motion is permitted.

The motor shaft 44 extends through a slot 46 in the rearwardly extending portion of the side wall I2 and has one or more pulleys 48 secured thereto inside the flange I4, flexible belts Or the like 50 connecting the pulley 48 with the pulley 30 secured to the drum shaft 28. Consequently, whenever the motor is energized, the pulley 48 will be rotated, the belts 50 will transmit this motion to the pulley 30, and the drum C will be correspondingly rotated. The direction of rotation of the motor B is such that the drum C will always be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3.

The rear housing section 3 is defined by a detachable unit consisting of a pair of appropriately shaped side walls 52 and 54 joined by a central panel 56 which defines the top and the rear of the housing section 3. This unit encompasses the motor B and hides it from view, but leaves the bottom of the housing open, the housing permitting controlled ventilation of the motor B. An aperture is provided in the top of the central panel 56 through which access may be had to the adjusting screw 40, thus permitting adjustment in end entering the tool through the upstanding sub-housing 6 and leading to a switch 66 mounted within the housing 6 and having handle 68 extending therethrough by means of which the switch can be controlled. Electrical connections,

a portion of which are shown in Fig. 2 by the ref erence numeral IQ, extend from the switch to the motor B, and additional electrical connections extend from the switch to the brushes within the brush block 25 mounted on the side housing wall In. The housing wall may, if desired, be provided with a pivotable cover I2 mounted over an aperture Id in the wall through which access to and inspection of the slip rings on the side of the drum C may be had.

For ventilating purposes, a portion of the top:

housing well I may be provided with an opening I6, and a tubular-shaped panel 18 may be secured thereover, the panel having open end 80 covered by a removable screen 82. As a result of this construction, the current of air which is caused to move within the front housing section I because of the heating and rotation of the drum C can flow through the opening 16 into the tubular portion I8 and out through its open end 80, thus providing for ventilation of the interior of the tool and permitting dirt, dust and other substances brushed from the fur by the drum C to be carried away from the fur and out of the front housing section I. It is often desired to assist this natural flow of air, in which event the screen 82 may be removed and the open end BI! connected by means of flexible tubing to a suction source. When the tool is used with this connection foreign matter and broken fur fibers are sucked from the fur piece I while it is being worked, as though the tool were a vacuum cleaner as well as a brushing, combing and ironing device.

Attached to and preferably integral with the upstanding housing 6 is a lug 8 5, to which the handle F is adapted to be secured by means of screw 86 the headed end 88 of which is retained on the outside of the lug 84 and the threaded end 93 of which extends through the handle F and into a counter-sunk area at the remote end thereof, where a nut 92 is threadedly secured thereto. A projection 94, in the form of a rubber bumper, is also secured to the free end of handle F for a purpose hereinafter to be disclosed.

The central panel 56 of the rear housing section 3 does not cover the bottom thereof. The curved bottom wall D is defined by a metal plate 96 one end of which is secured by means of screws 98 to the lower end of the central panel 53, the plate 96 being curved so as to extend under the motor B and define the rear bottom wall of the housing. This portion of the plate 96 is preferably provided with lateral corrugations Ill!) and extends down from the housing A a sunicient degree so that when the tool is held in position for an operative stroke as shown in Fig. l, the plate 96 will constitute a support for the tool, and will slide over the surface of the fur piece l in advance of the comb E and drum C when an operative stroke is taken. For purposes of appearance as well as for efficiency in manipulation, the plate 96 smoothly merges with the panel 56.

As here specifically disclosed, the plate 86 is provided, forward of its curved portion, with an inset portion generally designated m2 and defined by a vertical portion IEM, a horizontal portion I06 and a reversely bent lip M8, the latter being engageable with and supported between the lower edge of rear housing wall 8 and inwardly turned lugs III] integral with the side housing walls In and I2. The horizontal portion I06 has a leaf spring H2 secured to the top thereof by means of rivet II l, the downwardly flexed tips Hi5 of the spring H2 passing through apertures H8 in the horizontal portion I06. Another leaf spring I2El is mounted on the outside of the vertical portion Hi4 by means of rivet I22, the ends I24 of the spring I28 being bent around the ends of the vertical portion It! so as to project forwardly thereof, the upper edges of these ends I24 being vertically spaced from the horizontal portion I08.

The inset portion I02 is designed to releasably hold the comb E, that comb being defined by a base I26 from which a plurality ofstifi' combing teeth-or bristlesi-tsdepend. The teeth 5 are: preferably inclined rearwardly-toward the wall D in orden'to bite more effectively into and penetrate the' fur'ipiece I during'an operative stroke, thus providing a-stronger com'bingiaction. As here disclosed,-added combing rigidityin-the direction of operative action is imparted by the bend I28 in theteeth '5 near the-base 125. The inclination in question'also preventsdisruption of the fur piece-ll if the teeth 5 accidentallyengagethe surface of the fur pieceon the reverse stroke.

The forward edge of the base I26 is positioned inside reversely .bent lip Hit, the tips H6 of the spring I I2 engagingthe base I26 and tending to urge it downwardly so as to eject the comb E, this motion being normally prevented by engagement of the rear edgeof the base I28 with the top=surfaces of the ends I24 of the spring I23, the ends I24 thus Serving as spring-urged retaining lugs keeping the comb E in position. When it is:desired-to remove or replacethe comb E it is merely: necessary to urge the lugs I25 rearwardly until they are moved out of engagement with the rear edge of the base I26 of the comb E, the tips III? ofthe spring I I2 then forcing the comb E out of the inset portion I82, the base I25 pivoting 'within the reversely bent lip IE8.

In some applications it is desired that thecomb =Ebe resiliently mounted on the bottom of the housing A, and Fig. 5 illustrates themanner in which this is accomplished. All-that is necessary for. such resilient mounting is that there be a spacing between the base I25cf the comb E and the horizontal vportion I06of the inset portion I02. When such is the case the tips H6 of the spring H2 cause the base I26 of the comb E to pivot in. a clockwise direction about its forward edge retained within the reversely bent lip I08. If upward pressure is exerted on the combing bristles I28 the comb E will merely be urged upwardly against the resilient action of the spring II2, first pivoting about its forward edge and then, if that action is not sufficient, moving bodily upwardly :so long as clearance exists therefor. When the upward pressure is released the spring =II2 will once again force the combE to theposition illustrated in Fig. 5 and this position-will be retained until the lugs I 24 are withdrawn, at

The bottom of the housing A is open under the drum so that the peripheral fur conditioning'surface thereof is exposed. The combE is mounted'on the housing soas to be positioned immediately to the rear of the drum C, the tips of its combing-teeth or'bristles -extending downwa'rdly and rearwardly. The bottom plate Dis p'ositioned immediately to the rear of the comb E, the supporting plate '96 which forms a part thereof being so oriented and positioned that the tips of theteeth 5 of the comb E extend below a-line between the lower surface of the drum C "and" the plate D. For an operative stroke the tool is'oriented as disclosed in Fig. 1, the rear portion of the-housing A being supported-on the plate D and the front portion being supported by thedru'm C'and the lower side edges 9 of the housing A. The degree of penetration of the teeth 5 of thecomb E and of the drum C into the fur piece 'I may be controlled in a very simple manner by slightly changing the orientation of the tool as a whole. The 'teeth- 5 ofthe comb E are generally designed to penetrate the fur piece 'I'to a-somewhat greater extent than'the drum C, i beeause undenordinary circumstances the' comb 75i ing' supported byi the drum-C and theside edges A ing is. provided (see Fig. 5).

.degree of spacing the depth of penetration of ing =actionishould: be deem-whereas :thebrushing' and ironing action may b more confined to the surface-ofthe furspiece 'l. has already-been mentioned, the. lower-side edges-[9 of the housing A, by providing some.'support for the toolatits forward end, assist. in holding the degree of penetration. of the .drumc to properv limits.

Than-operative stroke, the handle F isgrasped by the operator andthe tool is pulled rearwardly, from -the left to the right=as viewed in Fig. 1, the plate D smoothingthe surface of the-fur piece Iimmediatelyminadvance of the teeth-5 of thecomb E, thus facilitating deep "and efe fective.penetrationwof the furpiece I bythose teeth 5. The corrugations I00, when present, facilitate the smoothingeifect. To express the matter in other words-itmight be said that .the plate D provides-a-surface brushing or. smooth? ing, whilethe teeth .5- of-the. comb E provide 's, deep and penetrating combing action. The inclination of the teeth 5, and the bend 1 28 therein if present, facilitate easy and deep penetration of the fur ,piece 'I. The combing actionoccurs immediately after the smoothing action, and therefore the smoothing action .assistsand intensifies the combing-1 action.

.Immediately'after. a givenareaof the furpiece I has been combed, the brushing and ironing drum C is moved thereover, that drum being rotated in acounterclockwise directionv as viewed in Fig. 3.so-as to provide amaximumbrushing and ironing effect. The fact .that thefurpiece I has been deeplycombed just before the brushing and ironing takesplaceintensifies the brushing and ironing action of the drum C, since .the fur fibers are actedupon. at once, and thus-before that can reassume the tightly'mattedor knotted condition'which they may have had before being combed.

The only force which the operator mustexert during this operative stroke is a pullingforce which will .dragthe tool rearwardly against the frictionexerted by the fur piece land in op- .position totherotation of the drum C. The

weight of the tool is sufficiently great so that, for ordinary operations, the operator need exert no downward .pressure but he may, ifheso desires, press downwardly upon the. tool in order to intensifythe effect thereof. Bycontrolling the exact. orientation of the tool theoperator. can, duringthe rearward or operative stroke, control the proportion of -brushingor ironing as compared with combing and the depth to which brushing, ironing-and combing .are each accomplished. By utilizing combs having bases I 26 of different thickness the intensity ofcombing action can. also be controlledsubstantially independently of the orientation of the tool, deep combing being effected when no clearance is left betweenthe comb base I25 and the horizontal portion I06 of the plate 96.(see Fig. 3) and soft or resiliently forced combing being achieved whensuch spac- By. controlling the thecombingteeth 5 can be fixed in advance.

Aftera rearward or operativestroke has been completed a reverse or inoperative stroke -nesessary to reposition the tool so that another operativestroke can ensue. The construction of the tool' of the instant invention facilitates this operation. All the operator need do is tilt the-tool forwardl to the position shown in Fig.

3 so that the comb and plate D are left above the surface of the fur piece 'I, the tool then: be-

9 of the housing A. The rotation of the drum C is in such a direction as to pull the tool forwardly, thus requiring the exertion of little or no force on the part of the operator, the operator merely having to guide the tool in the desired direction. If the teeth of the comb E should accidentally be brought in contact with the surface of the fur piece 1, their inclination is such that they will merely bend ineffectually, but will not bite into or penetrate the fur piece I to any appreciable degree, and hence they cannot accidentally destroy or harm any portion of the fur surface which has already been brushed and ironed.

If a suction source is operatively attached to the open end 80 of the panel 18 during these operations, the tool will act as a vacuum cleaner in addition to a combing, brushing and ironing device, foreign matter and broken fur fibers being sucked up from the fur piece 1, this cleaning action being intensified through rotation of the drum C.

It must be emphasized that at no time need the operator actually lift the full weight of the tool, the major proportion of that weight being supported either by the drum C alone or by the drum C in conjunction with the plate 96 during the forward and rearward strokes respectively.

It will therefore be seen that the tool of the present invention is so constructed as to perform smoothing, combing, brushing and ironing operations in a single stroke, the degree to which any one of those operations is to be performed either in an absolute sense or in relation to the other operations being readily controllable either by choice of a suitable comb E or by orientation and manipulation of the tool during the operative stroke. The tool is so designed that manipulation thereof may be precisely controlled with a minimum of effort, since such control.

is achieved through the inclination of the tool, the rapidity with which it is moved in its operative stroke, and the degree to which it is pressed down into the fur piece 1.

A pair of projections I in the form of rubber bumpers are secured to the central panel 56 of the rear housing section 3 so that, when it is desired to place the tool in a standby position, this may conveniently be done. As is particularly shown in Fig. 2, the projections [30 on the central panel 56, in conjunction with the proj'ection 94 at the free end of the handle F, support the tool in vertical position, ready to be grasped and used again whenever desired.

The tool of the present invention is not only comparatively light, small and compact, but also efiiciently performs a plurality of fur treating functions which heretofore have required the use of a multiplicity of tools in separate operations. The tool of the present invention is so designed that the performance of one function assists in the attainment of others, and the parts of the machine are so constructed and arranged as to facilitate manipulation of the tool and precise control of each individual operation either independently or in comparison with the other operations. Operator fatigue is materially reduced without sacrifice in efficiency or effectiveness of function.

While but a single embodiment of the present invention is here illustrated, it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit of the v invention asdefined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A hand-manipulated fur treating tool comprising a housing having a bottom with an opening therein, a motor mounted in said housing, a rotary fur treating element mounted therein and operatively connected to said motor, said element being positioned in line with the opening in the bottom of said housing so as to be engageable with a fur surface or the like, a wall on the bottom of said housing at the other end thereof adapted to support the tool and smooth the fur surface over which it is moved, a comb having teeth projecting downwardly from the bottom of said housing between said element and. said wall, and a handle on said housing.

2. The tool of claim 1, in which said wall is corrugated in a direction extending from side to side of said tool.

3. The tool of claim 1, in which the said wall is curved and the teeth of said comb are inclined toward said curved wall.

4. The tool of claim 1, in which the sides of said housing depend below said fur treating element and terminate in bottom edges which serve to prevent excessive penetration of a fur surface by said fur treating element- 5. A hand-manipulated fur treating tool comprising a'housing having a bottomwith an opening therein and having an end wall at one end thereof, a motor mouted therein near said end wall, a rotary fur treating element mounted therein remote from said end wall and operatively connected to said motor, said. element being accessible through the open bottom of said housing so as to be engageable with a fur surface or the like, a bottom wall on said housing adjacent and blending into said end wall, said bottom wall being adapted to support the tool and smooth the fur surface over which it is moved, a comb having teeth projecting downwardly from the bottom of said housing between said element and said bottom wall, and a handle on said housing.

6. In the tool of claim 5, a pair of projections on said end wall and a projection on said handle extending in the same direction as said first named projections upon which said tool may be supported when not in use. I

7. The tool of claim 5, in which said bottom wall is corrugated in a direction extending from side to side of said tool.

8. The tool of claim 5, in which the teeth of said comb are inclined toward said bottom wall.

9. The tool of claim 5, in which the sides of said housing depend below said fur treating element and terminate in bottom edges which serve to prevent excessive penetration of a fur surface by said fur treating element.

10. A hand-manipulated fur treating tool comprising a housing having front and rear housing sections, said front housing section being open at the bottom and said rear housing section having a bottom wall adapted to support the tool and smooth the fur surface over which it is moved, a motor in said rear housing section, a rotary fur brushing and ironing drum in said front housing section, the peripheral surface of said drum being accessible through the open bottom of said front housing section, means in said housing for heating said drum, a driving operative connection between said motor and said drum, a comb having teeth projecting downwardly from the bottom of said housing between said drum and said wall, and a handle on said housing.

11. In the tool of claim 10, a spring on said 11 housingactive on saidcomb.to,resilientljz urge itsdownwardlyi 12.. The tool" of claim: 10,f,in* which .said." bots tomwallis corrugated in a direction extending fromiside to side of saidltool;

-13..'.In.the tool of'claim I','.a pair'ofprojections ,onsaid .end. wal-landia' projection on .said handleextending in the same directionas'said first named projections upon whichsaid'tool may be. supported when not m use.

14; TI'l-ietool'of'clai'm 1.0;. in which the 'teethof saidicomb-are inclined toward said bottomwvall.

laTheitool'iof claim in which the sidesof said housing depend below said..funtreatingele mentandterminate in bottom edges-which serve toiprevent. excessive penetration of afur surface by said fur treating element."

1.6.-.A. hand manipulating for treating tool comprising a housinghaving front'andrear'housing sections, said. front housing section being openat the bottom andfsaid 'rearh'ousingsection having-a bottom wall adapted to sup portthe tool in .oneposition andsmooth the fursurfaoe over which it is moved'andhaving a rear'end-Wa'll adapted to support'the tool when it is tilted-rearwardly, a motor in said rear'housing'section; a rotary furv brushing. and ironing drum" in said front housing section; the peripheral surface of said-drum beingaccessible throughthe-open bottom ofsaidfront'housing'section, n'ieans in said housing for heating said drum; a'driving' operative; connection between said" motor and said drum, 2; comb having" teeth projecting downwardlyjfromthe bottom of said'housing between .sai'ddrum and said Wa1l,.and a handle" on said comprising a housing having front and rear 'liousingsections' open at the bottom; a motor in.said.r.ear housingjsectiom a" rotary fur brushing:v and'i'. ironing drum .in' saidifront housing; section, the'peripheralsurface of saiddrum being accessiblethrough the openbottomof said front housing section; means in-said housing-for heating said" drum, a driving; operative connection between said motorandsaid' drum;- a'pl'ate' securedi'tosaid housing under'the' open bottom of the" rear section thereof and adapted to support the tool'and smooth the fur surface over' which it is moved, a. comb" having teeth projecting downwardly fromsaid housing between said drum and said plate, anda; handleon said housing.

20..The" tool' of claim 19, in which said plate isicorrugated in a direction extending from'side to side'of said tool.

21'i.The tool'of claim 19, in'which' the" teeth ofsaidcomb are inclined toward saidplate.

221A hand-manipulated" fur treating, tool comprising. a housing having front and. rear housing sections open at the bottom, andhaving a.curved rear wall, a motor in said rear housingsection, a rotary fur brushing and.ironingdrumin said front housing section, the peripheral. surface of said drum being accessible through the open bottom of'said front housing section, means in said housing for heating said' drum, a driving operative connection between teeth-of said. comb are inclinedi'toward the rear said motor: and said drum, a:. curved? plate see curedto said 'housingunder' the opembot'tom of the rear gsectiorr thereof, and blending" into? i said curved": rear. wail, ,saidipl'ate' and rear wall being adapted to'. support :the tool in" appropriate positionsand said plate being adapted to smooth the fursurface, over which it ismoved, a comb having teeth projecting downwardly" from said housingjbetween' said 'drumand said plate; and a handle onpsaid'housing.

23. In the" tool of claim" 22;-;a pain of projectionson" said end wall and aprojection on said handle ext'endingin the-"same direction-as said first. named projections; upon which" said tool may be supported when not inuse;

24.,The' tool ofclaim122; in" which said bottom wail'is corrugated in a direction-extending from side to: side ofsaid tool.

25. Thetool ofcla'in'1'22", in-whichthe teeth of; said comb are-inc1ined" toward said curved plate.

26. A hand-manipulated fur treating tool comprising a housing having front and rear housing sections open at the bottom, amotor in; said rear'housing'section,,a rotary fur brushing and ironing drum insaid front housing sec:- tion', the peripheral surface of said drum being accessible; through the open'bottom of said front housing section, a driving operative connection between said motor and said drum; meansi'n said housing for heating said" drum; aplate secured to said housing under the open bottom of said rear. section andhaving a reanport'ion adaptedpto. support the tool-1' and to smooth 7 the fur surface'ov er which it is moved and having a forward inset portion positioned just rearwardly of saiddrum; acomb mounted on the forward" inset portion of said plate -and ha'vin g teeth projecting'downwardh between-said drum andsaid rear portionofsaidplate; and a handie on said housing.

27. A hand manipulated fur: treating; tool comprising ahousing: having: front and: rear housing sections open'atithezzbottom a motor in said rear; housing section;..aerotarytfurbrushing and ironingidrum; insaid. front-.housing section; the peripheral surface'of said drum being accessible"; through:' the openbottom? of: said front" housing section; a driving: operative connection between. said: motor; and saiddrum, meansain said housing for. heating. said: drum, a plate: secured Y to said" housing. under the open bottom of' said rear.- section. and ha-ving ai rear portionadapted to supportthe tool and to smooth the fur surface over which -.it .is -moved and-having a. forward inset portion; positioned. rearwardly of saididrum, a spring. on said;forward insettportion of. said. plate. activein a. downward. direction, a combremovably. mountedlon said forward! inset portion andin contact with said. spring so, as to. beresiliently urged downwardly, its.teeth. thusprojecting between said drumand said rear: portion of 'said plate, andja handle on said housing.

28. The. tool of claim 27,. in which the portionzof said plate.

29. A hand manipulated. fur treating tool comprising a housing having front and rear housing sections open; at the bottom, a motor in said rear housing section; a rotary furbrushing andironing drum in said front'housing section, the" peripheralisurface'of said drum being accessible through theopen'bott'om of said fro'nt housing section; a driving operative connection '9 14; between said motor and said drum, means in said housing for heating the drum, a plate secured to said housing under the open bottom of said rear section and having a rear portion adapted to support the tool and smooth the fur surface over which it is moved, a substantially vertical portion and a raised substantially horizontal portion, a spring on said horizontal portion active in a downward direction, spring urged retaining lugs on said vertical portion projecting under but vertically spaced from said horizontal portion, a comb removably mounted under said horizontal portion and in contact with said spring so as to be urged resiliently downwardly thereby into contact with said lugs, its

teeth thus projecting between said drum and said rear portion of said plate, said spring ejecting said comb when said lugs are withdrawn, and a handle on said housing.

30. A hand-manipulated fur treating tool comprising a housing having front and rear housing sections open at the bottom a motor in said rear housing section, a rotary fur brushing and ironing drum in said front housing section, the peripheral surface of said drum being accessible through the open bottom of said front housing section, a driving operative connection between said motor and said drum, means in said housing for heating said drum, a plate se= cured to said housing under the open bottom of said rear section and having a rear portion adapted to support the tool and to smooth the fur surface over which it is moved, a substantially vertical portion, a substantially horizontal portion, and a reversely bent lip at one end of said horizontal portion, a spring on said horizontal portion spaced from said lip and active in a downward direction, spring urged retaining lugs on said vertical portion projecting under but vertically spaced from said horizontal portion, a comb mounted under said horizontal portion with one edge retained within said reversely bent lip and pivotable therewithin, said comb being in contact with said spring so as to be resiliently pivoted downwardly thereby about said edge into contact with said lugs, the teeth of said comb in that position projecting downwardly between said drum and said rear portion of said plate, said spring ejecting said comb when said lugs are withdrawn, and a handle on said housing.

31. The tool of claim 30, in which the teeth of said comb are inclined toward the rear portion of said plate.

SAMUEL FRIEDMAN.

N 0 references cited. 

